GURMUKHS CITED IN THE GURBANI

O Nanak, the Spiritual Wisdom (ਉੱਚੀ ਸਮਝ, etc.) is attained by becoming the Gurmukh,
and the pitch-black
darkness of ignorance is dispelled (sggs 512). <><><><>

Who is the Gurmukh? the Gurmukh transcends Maya; he is free of the false ego-sense (Haumai, ਆਪਾ ਭਾਵ, "ਮੈ ਮੈ") and duality (Doojaa-Bhaav); he abides in the Divine Hukam (ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬੰਦੇ-ਅਮਲੀ ਜੀਵਨ, ਹੁਕਮੀ ਜੀਵਨ...); he is linked to his Mool within (ਮੂਲ: Source, Origin, Truth, Jot...) and ever remains so; he is contented in all situations (Sach Santokhee); he is the follower of the Truth; his mind is linked to Antar-Aatmaa; he restrains his mind instead of following his mind; he remains integrated in the state of "ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ " - Ik Mani Ik Chiti; he is detached in the midst of Maya - ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ; he is established in Bibek Budhi - ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰਮਤ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੈ; hisAkal (ਅਕਲ , wisdom, intellect, reason, etc.) follows the Gurbani (Aatam Giaan Spiritual Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad); he is Aatam Giaanee or Brahm Giaanee ; he is established in Chauthaa Pada or Turiyaa Avasthaa (Tenth
Gate, Sahaj Avasthaa - Natural State of Being; Sunn Samaadhi, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ, Shabad-Surti, etc.); he knows all the "Way of the soul" ("ਜਾਨੈ ਆਤਮ ਕੀ ਰਹਤ", ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ...); he is Jeevan Mukat (living Liberated or Enlightened); he is the fully "Awakened" one who is established at Dasam Duaar (the Tenth-Gate, the Highest Plane of Consciousness)...

ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਮਨਹੁ ਤਜਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥: Aap pachhaanahi Sabadi marahi manahu taj vikaar: (The one who has become the Gurmukh) realizes his own (True) Self; he dies in the Shabad, (and through the Shabad) he banishes Bikaars from his mind (sggs 430).

Among the Gurmukhs names mentioned in the Sri Guru
Granth Sahib, SGGS, are: Prahlaada, Dhruva, Janak, Vibheeshana, Vashisht (also spelt Vashishtha ), Vidura, Bhagat
Dhanna and Baalmeek. Clearly, these names must have been very important and
extraordinary for they made their way into the Gurbani as "Gurmukh".

Some of the esoteric messages
of these Gurmukh examples could be drawn as follows: false ego is the seed of
the instinctive mind and is responsible for man's undoing, hence it must be eradicated;
the only way to know the secret of annihilating false ego is by becoming a Gurmukh;
begin Spiritual Life (Gurmukhtaa) from early age as this will ensure steady
progress; give up demoniac life (Manmukhtaa); never divert attention from
the Spiritual Life even to the smallest extent even if one is persecuted; practice
tolerance and bear insult and dishonor from others because if one is engaged in
the advancement of the Divine Knowledge (Aatam Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom), there will be plenty of insults and much dishonor
from others; continue inner unfoldment with determination, even there may be many
impediments to making advancement; be fearless and never be afraid of any material
danger; always maintain poise, calm, and peace; do not indulge in self-praise;
surrender falsehood at the alter of the Divine within; think of the welfare of
the entire universe including those who wish ill; never be disturbed by inimical
activities; love all and see One God in all; live and let live; be truthful, simple
and straightforward so that one can disclose the real truth even to an enemy;
be satisfied and contented in all circumstances; do not be emotionally attached
to the opposite sex for it's the greatest impurity of the mind; control the mind;
keep good association; do not compromise with Dharma even in material distress
because compromises take one away from the Mool (Source, Origin, Jot...); recognize oneness of all
beings in this world; do not nurture hostility, animosity, distrust, and hatred;
do not be attached to materialistic life — home, family, wife, husband, children,
material possessions, etc. — because a man guided by sense gratification cannot
develop Divine Consciousness; never bereft of your position on the path of liberation
from bondage; follow Divine Teachings sincerely; the attitude of surrender to
the Divine should not be motivated by covetous designs; anyone irrespective of
his caste, creed, social status, education as well as regardless of if one is
a householder or a renunciate can attain Divine Knowledge and become a Spiritual
Being and a Teacher; live a dedicated life of absolute purity, where life is eternal;
those who engage in Shabad-Vichaar (Jap,Naam-Simran...) with humility and faith
are not disappointed; develop a childlike innocence, give up evil deeds and blind
attachment, and so on. In nutshell, actually all this is to show us that one must
Spiritually work and live a Divine Life (Aatam-Maarag, the Gurmukh Lifetyle); then only one can get the state of Mool-realization (Gurmukh).